Writing-tablet



(N0 MOdel.)

J. B. .BURWELL. Writing Tablet.

No. 239,296. Patented March 22, 1881.

UNITED STATES its PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. BURWELL, OF STAUNTON, VIRGINIA.v

WRITING-TABLET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,296, dated March 22, 1881.

Application filed February 8, 1881. (No model.) V

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. BURWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Staun ton, in the county of Augusta and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Writing-Tablets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exactdescription of the invention,

cover composed of absorbent or blotting pa-' per, whichserves to remove the surplus ink from the written sheet. It has been found that such an outer leaf of absorbent paper will not remain in a perfect condition until the sheets of paper are exhausted, because, by reason of its exposed or unprotected position, it is liable to get torn 0r bent, particularly when the tablet is carried in a pocket or is thrown about.

The present invention obviates the defects of such a tablet having an absorbent outer leaf, and is also designed to furnish a tablet which is more satisfactory and capable of a more extended use. I attain these results by constructing a tablet of a central sheet of cardboard or other stiff material, and attaching thereto, by flexible strips, two outer covers of card-board, to the inner sides of which are secured sheets of blotting or absorbent paper.

The sheets or leaves of paper to bewritten upon are held together at their upper edges by cementing or otherwise securing them to the flexible strips which form the hinge-joints of the outer covers. The central, or division board extends beyond the upper edge of the tablet, andkhas an eyelet therein for suspending the tablet when not in use.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing one of the covers thrown up. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section.

The letter A designates a central sheet of card-board or other rigid material, which serves as a division board or strip, and projects 5 beyond the upperedge of the body of the tablet, as is shown at B.' A number of sheets of paper, 0, secured together at their upper edges, constitute the tablet proper, and are located or arranged on both sides of the division board or strip A. In this manner I- produce a double tablet, which is capable of being used when either side is up.

The letterD designates two outer covers, made of sheets of card-board or other suitable rigid material, and attached to the divisionboard A by means of flexible strips E, of textile fabric orleather. To the inner side of each cover, or to the flexible strips forming the hinges, lattach, by cement or otherwise, a

blotters are'only attached at'their upper edges, as is also the case with the sheets of paper to be written upon. The projecting portion of the division-board A is made narrower than the rest, and has-an opening or eyelet, Gr, at its upper end, for the purpose of hanging the same from a hook or peg. Any other suspension device may, however, be used in place of the eyelet.

It will be obvious that a double or reversible tablet constructed in the manner above set forth is capable of a more varied or extended use than a single tablet. Moreover, effectual means are provided for protecting the blotters from being torn or broken, and consequently the soiling of the sheets of paper is also prevented.

It will be understood that the sheets of paper, may haveany printed matter upon the same, as in the tablets in commonuse. I prefsheet of blotting or absorbent paper, F. These 7 outer protecting-covers, and is capable of bepaper arranged between said outer covers and TO ing opened from either side, thus avoidingthe the division-board on both sides of the latter, trouble of turning the tablet right side up. as and for the purpose set forth.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure In testimony whereof I affi; my signature in by Letters Patent, isv presence of two witnesses.

A double or reversible writing-tablet, comv JOHN B. BURWELL. posed of a central division board or card hav- Witnesses: ing a projecting upper end, the rigid outer W. B. HARDY, covers, and the sheets of blotting and writing WILLIAM A. BURNETT. 

